Mercedes pulls out of Pirelli tyre test due to budget cap fears
Mercedes was due to complete a wet tyre test at Paul Ricard after the Monaco GP weekend
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed the team will not participate in a wet weather Pirelli tyre test scheduled to take place at Paul Ricard following the Monaco Grand Prix.
Pirelli has enlisted teams to aid in the development of its new 18-inch tyres for F1's radical rule changes being introduced in 2022, with Mercedes slated to participate at the home of the French Grand Prix.
However, that is now not the case and Ferrari will step into the gap left by the world champions.
Explaining the decision ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Wolff said: "We are trying to make the budget cap, which is not trivial and we couldn’t take the costs related to the tyre test and we wouldn’t have been able to send our mechanics on such a long journey."
Mercedes has already confirmed it is running close to the $145million budget cap introduced to F1 this year and was affected by the heavy incident suffered by Valtteri Bottas at Imola with George Russell.
Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto suggested that was the reason Ferrari is in a position to fill in for Mercedes.
"As Ferrari, we always said that 2022 is our priority over 2021 and testing Pirelli tyres, helping Pirelli develop the new tyres we believe is important for us.
"Luckily enough we didn’t have a crash in Imola so eventually we have some more contingency to Mercedes today, so somehow we are happy to accept and support."
Related
More F1 news
Latest F1 news
Recommended by the editors
Barcelona Grand Prix
F1 Results Today: Lewis Hamilton claims record win at Barcelona Grand Prix
Barcelona Grand Prix
F1 2026 Barcelona Grand Prix starting grid with penalties applied
Red Bull
Red Bull meet with FIA president over controversial F1 ruling
Barcelona Grand Prix
F1 Odds: Barcelona Grand Prix favourites as Lewis Hamilton shocks Antonelli
Races
-
Grand Prix of Australia 2026
-
Grand Prix of China 2026
-
Grand Prix of Japan 2026
-
Grand Prix of Bahrain 2026
-
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2026
-
Miami Grand Prix 2026
-
Grand Prix du Canada 2026
-
Grand Prix De Monaco 2026
-
Gran Premio de Barcelona-Catalunya 2026
-
Grand Prix of Austria 2026
-
Grand Prix of Great Britain 2026
-
Grand Prix of Belgium 2026
-
Grand Prix of Hungary 2026
-
Dutch Grand Prix 2026
-
Grand Prix of Italy 2026
-
Gran Premio de España 2026
-
Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2026
-
Grand Prix of Singapore 2026
-
Grand Prix of the United States 2026
-
Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2026
-
Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2026
-
Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026
-
Qatar Grand Prix 2026
-
Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2026
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Editorial & corporate information
Avenue HQ
10–12 East Parade
Leeds
LS1 2BH
United Kingdom Regional correspondence
View contact page